Still searching for balanced pre to m60's

First off should express gratitude to our community for offering so much invaluable information.
I started to search for more options for my m60's. I came across arc, cary and aesthetix.
Would appreciate some advice here.
I have read from some goners here that the calypso's are amazing. Then I read the same about arc ls17 and ls26's. Then I came across cary's slp 05 and slp 03.
I still would like to get atma sphere's preamp but the lack of remote is influencing my decision. The remote isn't nearly the key point as much as is the sound. I am most after the sound! That said, since I am on a budget(who isn't) which pre should be first on my short list.
Just to fill in the requirements list, I would like to add that the discription of the mbl 101 extremes in absolute sounds best pick pages is what I am looking for. They said to the effect: instruments or vocals are suspended in midair, sounding very life-like.
I am getting some of that with what I own already, just need to bring things up a notch probably.
If money was no object I would get the mp1, but it is out of range and will be willing to part with $3k.
The options are the atma sphere mp3, aesthetix calypso, arc ls17, cary slp 03. Any others I should look at?
Let's say: putting remote control and tube rolling aside(meaning I will put up with both the possibility of tube rolling or no tube rolling to get the most out of the preamp), what would be the best sounding pre within $3k? With the possibility of future upgrades to take it over the top with caps and tubes.